Merry Christmas!
Love’s Christmas Gift
Mindy Hardwick
Love’s Christmas Gift
“Elizabeth is under the mistletoe!” Madison leaned over the balcony. She tied a red velvet bow to the wood banister.
“Be careful, Madison.” Elizabeth gazed up at her nineteen-year-old niece on the second floor balcony. She glanced past the mistletoe hanging from a small, green tack in the living room doorway. Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. It was good to have Madison home from college for the holidays. She brought liveliness to the house. Elizabeth shifted a large glass snow globe to her left hand, and reached up to pull the mistletoe down. Before her fingers touched the ribbon, Bill stepped up behind her. A large strand of holiday lights dangled from his fingertips.
“Guess that means we kiss.” Bill leaned down and kissed Elizabeth on the lips with a loud smack.
“There is nothing as wonderful as Christmas kisses.” Sadie entered the room carrying a plate of decorated sugar cookies on a silver tray. A Santa hat perched sideways on her head. Sadie’s dark eyes danced and her smile lit up her face. An apron covered her dark purple sweater and jeans.
Bill stepped out of the doorway. He whistled an unrecognizable tune as he headed for the front porch. Elizabeth walked quickly away from the mistletoe. Her face felt hot. Santa would not deliver her long-time friend, Bill, under her Christmas tree as a romantic partner. Bill made it clear to everyone he was a confirmed bachelor who did not want to be married. And, Bill’s decision suited her fine. After her first husband left to be with another woman, Elizabeth didn’t want to be married again. It was much easier to be friends.
“I’ll get these lights strung on the front porch.” Bill pulled open the front door. “Be back in a few minutes.”
“Madison,” Elizabeth said. “The top two ribbons on the stairway are sideways. Can you straighten them?”
Elizabeth set the glass snow globe on the dining room sideboard. She broke off a small piece of sugar cookie from Sadie’s platter and tasted it.
“I think Bill needed to cool off from the kiss.” Sadie winked at her.
“Mmmm…” Elizabeth picked up the second half of the cookie and popped it in her mouth. She ignored Sadie’s hint about Bill. For months, Sadie had been trying to play match-maker between her and Bill. Sadie was probably the one who supplied the mistletoe for Madison to hang. “What recipe did you use for these?” Elizabeth took another bite of cookie.
“The holiday lunch recipe,” Sadie said.
“Of course!” Elizabeth loved Sadie’s holiday lunch. Every Christmas, Sadie filled her Bed and Breakfast with her friends and family. The menu changed every year, but what never changed was the small plate of homemade baked goodies Sadie gave to all her friends. Sadie’s mom had owned a bakery and Sadie inherited all of her recipes. Each Christmas, Sadie surprised everyone with a new recipe.
“I wrapped all the cookies in red and green plastic wrap,” Sadie said. “There should be enough for every guest who comes to your house on the tour.”
“I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Elizabeth’s eyes watered. Her friends had been amazing. Over the last couple of hours, Cassie, Sadie and Bill transformed her house into a beautiful home filled with wonderful Christmas scents and decorations. Sadie worked hard in the kitchen creating delicious Christmas goodies. Cassie made sure wreaths and garlands hung from every room in the house, and Bill had been busy hanging lights on the front porch.
“Stepping up at the last minute and offering your home on the Holiday Parlor Tour was a very gracious thing to do for the Historical Society. Who would have dreamed that Mrs. Fitch’s house would be flooded by a water pipe break, and Mrs. Patterson would get sick with the flu,” Cassie said from her perch on the step-ladder by the fireplace. She adjusted the wreath to the left so it was placed perfectly over the mantel. A row of handmade needlepoint stockings hung underneath. Elizabeth suspected the stockings were from Cassie’s own Christmas decorations.
“I’m glad to do it,” Elizabeth said. “I love to share my home at the holidays. I just haven’t…” Elizabeth broke off as the tears filled her throat. She’d been trying so hard not to think about her sister and brother-in-law. But the holidays brought everything so much closer to the surface. Although they hadn’t talked about it, Elizabeth knew the holidays had to be hard for Madison, too. Madison was a sophomore at the University of San Diego. It hadn’t surprised Elizabeth when Madison was accepted into a college across the country. Elizabeth suspected Madison wanted to get far away from where her parents had been killed in the dreadful New Year’s Eve accident. But, she missed having Madison closer. It was so good to have her home for the holidays.
Sadie set down the plate of cookies and hugged Elizabeth. “I know this time of year must be extremely hard for you. We are here for you if you need anything.”
Elizabeth wiped her eyes. “At least Madison was able to get home from college. Last year, she got caught in a snow storm in Chicago and got stuck in the airport on Christmas Day. If it wasn’t for your holiday lunch, I don’t know what I would have done.”
“You are always welcome at the holiday lunch,” Sadie said warmly.
Suddenly, the front door swung open and crashed against the wall.
“Ho, ho, ho! Santa has a tree for you!”
Elizabeth peered around the corner and gasped. Sailing Board treasurer, Eric, and his nephew, sixteen-year-old Devon, were engulfed in the biggest Christmas tree Elizabeth had ever seen.
“Over here.” Bill walked behind Eric and Devon. “Careful. Watch the doorway. Turn the tree around.” Bill was as comfortable in her house directing the tree decorating as he was on the waters directing his crew. Elizabeth smiled. It was why everyone wanted to crew with Bill, and he so rarely had any openings.
Elizabeth hurried to the living room and moved the coffee table out of the way.
“Eric! Where did you get that tree?” Cassie waved her hand in the air. Her diamond engagement ring sparkled. Cassie had made it clear to Eric she didn’t want a large diamond engagement ring. She protested a huge ring would be something to worry about while she was painting and working as an artist. But, when Eric told her the ring belonged to his grandmother who was married to his grandfather for sixty-two years, Cassie immediately softened. Elizabeth hadn’t seen her take the ring off.
Elizabeth looked around the room at her friends and smiled. Over the last year, love had crept over the Sailing Foundation board members. First, Sadie reconnected with high school sweetheart Damon during a sailing regatta. Then, Cassie rekindled with her first love, Eric when the two of them were tossed together in planning the Foundation’s auction. Love cast a magic spell and wound its way around the Board table. A picture of dancing with Bill at a Christmas wedding filled Elizabeth with a sudden longing.
Don’t go there, she chided herself. She and Bill would always be friends. Both had full lives with their careers and community activities. It was enough to be each other’s companion at yearly events such as the annual dinner dance at the Sailing Club. They didn’t need to be romantically involved too.
Eric hoisted the tree into a large stand in front of the picture window.
“How does it look?” Bill asked.
“Wonderful.” Elizabeth clasped her hands together and applauded lightly.
“Great!” Bill smiled at her. The wrinkles around his cheeks crinkled. Elizabeth had a strong urge to step forward and run her fingers lightly over those wrinkles. Surprised at herself and her emotions, she turned away from the festivities and walked briskly into the dining room. The best way to push aside her foolish, romantic visions was to become busy. Elizabeth pulled out a plush red velvet chair at the dining room table. There was plenty to do to get ready for the Holiday Parlor Tour. She sat down in front of her laptop. A large manila folder labeled “house” lay open on the table. Each house on the Holiday Tour was required to have a House Information Sheet. The i
nformation told visitors the age of the home, the date of purchase, how many owners it had, and if there were any interesting stories about the home. Since her home had been a last minute addition, Elizabeth wouldn’t be in the tour booklet. But, Historic Homes president, Marcie, promised to tuck her information into an insert pocket of the booklet.
Elizabeth quickly typed the required information and saved the file. She glanced up once, and, seeing the tree moving sideways toward her window, quickly glanced down again. There was no point in worrying. Things were under control in Bill’s capable hands. Elizabeth clicked over to her email to send the information sheet to Marcie. She logged in and frowned at the top email’s subject: Job Interview. She hadn’t applied for any jobs.
Curious, Elizabeth opened the email.
Dear Elizabeth,
We have recently had an opportunity to see the curriculum you designed for the Rochester Zoo. We were very impressed. As you may know, The San Diego Zoo is opening a new Safari Park. We are looking for a director to head the education department. We wondered if you might be interested in interviewing. If so, we are conducting interviews the second week of January. We’d love to interview you for the job. Please contact us at your earliest convenience.
Elizabeth inhaled sharply. After Zoo funding had been cut, she lost her job as Education Director. But, a month later, the zoo needed someone to design a science curriculum. They hired Elizabeth as a freelancer. Elizabeth enjoyed the work and hoped to find more freelance work in the New Year. Budgets at zoos were tight. She never dreamed someone would offer to interview her for a full-time job. Her pulse raced. Should she take the interview?
Madison’s voice carried across the room as she directed Bill to straighten the tree. Elizabeth’s heart warmed. A job in San Diego would be perfect. She would be close to Madison. They’d be able to see each other more than just Christmas and summer holidays. But— Elizabeth scanned the festive room—how could she leave? Her friends and her life were here. After her first marriage ended so disastrously, she’d taken over her parents’ home. They wanted to move to Florida and retire. Elizabeth longed for the familiarity of the house where she grew up. Gradually, over the years, she updated the house. She replaced old, worn out carpet and put down new floors. She updated the kitchen to include sparkling silver appliances. She even created a sweeping attic room on the third floor for Madison.
“Aunt Elizabeth?” Madison said. “Is everything okay?”
Elizabeth shook herself. ”Yes, everything is fine. I opened my email to send a note to Marcie. I started reading other emails. It’s nothing.” Elizabeth laughed nervously.
Madison stared hard at her.
“Really,” Elizabeth said. “I’m fine. Why don’t you see if you can find the box of ornaments in my bedroom closet?”
Madison frowned but didn’t argue. She headed down the hall toward Elizabeth’s bedroom.
Elizabeth turned back to the computer. She attached her House Information Sheet to the email and typed in Marcie’s name. Elizabeth hit send. Her heart pounded and her hands felt sweaty. She didn’t have to decide about the interview now. She could wait until after Christmas to make her decision. Elizabeth looked out the window at the falling snow and shivered. The winter months did get long in New York. Maybe she would go to San Diego, just to interview. It couldn’t hurt. Elizabeth smiled to herself. Maybe she didn’t need to fall in love like the rest of her friends. Maybe her love would be a new job.
Elizabeth stood, pushed in her chair, and looked up to meet Bill’s gaze from across the room.
****
Bill hastily looked away from Elizabeth, but not before he saw the emotions cascading across her face. Bill frowned. Elizabeth wasn’t known for displaying her emotions easily. In the midst of a crisis, Elizabeth could be counted on to keep her cool. Bill remembered the first time he saw Elizabeth. It was the Sailing Club Regatta three years ago. Ann had gotten sick and Elizabeth stepped up to take her place at the registration table. Midway through registration, Drew showed up with his unregistered boat of sailors. Instead of turning them away, Elizabeth calmly sorted through the registration packets until she found a handful of blank ones. She instructed Drew and his sailors to return the papers to her when they were finished. In that moment, Bill knew Elizabeth had to be on the Sailing Foundation Board. That year, he was the Board president. It seemed every time he turned around, there was another crisis. Everyone had lost their patience. More than one person threated resignation. Elizabeth rose to the challenge gracefully, and, by Christmas, the Sailing Foundation Board was back on track.
Bill scanned the warmly lit living room. The smell of cinnamon and vanilla rose from a candle on a nearby coffee table. Lamps on coffee tables spilled warm soft light onto plush carpets. Heavy red carpets covered the polished wood hallway floors and the dark oak dining table looked as though it had been in someone’s family for years. Throw pillows dotted the brown leather couch and a knitted blanket lay across a matching chair. It was the home of someone who loved entertaining, and yet at the same time, the home could easily accommodate an intimate dinner for two. Bill imagined himself sitting in front of the fireplace, listening to Elizabeth talk about her day, telling her about his, and sharing long, intimate snowy evenings together.
Startled, Bill shook himself. Elizabeth was a friend. She was a good friend and a wonderful companion. It was best to leave things just as they were. When the edges started getting pushed, things got messy. He didn’t like messy entanglements. They reminded him too much of his life as a boy. It was easier to live a simple life—unattached.
Bill turned his attention to the living room where Sailing Board treasurer, Eric and his nephew, Devon, tried to position a tree in front of the picture window. “Devon,” Bill said firmly. “The tree needs to lean a little to the left. It’s not straight.”
“This way?” Devon pushed against the tree. The branches touched the living room window.
“Not that way,” Eric snapped. “The other way.”
“Patience,” Bill said mildly. “He’s doing fine.”
“I should have left him at home.” Eric grumbled. “I don’t seem to have any patience with him. Cassie is doing her best in the Art mentor program, but I’m not seeing much improvement at home.”
“He’ll get the hang of it,” Bill said. “Holidays can be a rough time for people. Devon’s getting used to living with you. He’ll work things out.” Bill watched Devon straighten the tree. “That’s it.” Bill gave Devon the thumbs up signal. “You got it.” Bill liked Devon. He was reminded of himself at sixteen. Devon was a teen struggling to find his way in a world that had been less than kind. Devon’s mom had been in and out of jail for drugs most of his life. She’d recently been sentenced to a fifteen-year sentence, and Devon had come to live with Eric. Devon didn’t know his dad. Bill knew that a boy needed his dad—especially at sixteen. Cassie was working with Devon in the Art Mentor Program, which was part of the court ordered program Devon participated in after he got caught tagging graffiti. Although Eric claimed he hadn’t seen any changes, Bill noticed differences. Devon spent time working at the boatyard after school. Devon was changing from a sullen young man into a young man with curiosities and a thirst for learning. Bill had already promised Devon a spot crewing on his boat next season. Devon was eagerly devouring maps and charts. Bill knew Devon would make a great long-haul racer.
Cassie stepped down from the ladder where she had been hanging a large wreath. She snuggled up against Eric. “It’s snowing hard. I’ve got to get to the art supply store.”
“I’ve got the truck,” Eric said. “If you’re ready, we can go now.”
Sadie came in from the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron. “I better go too. I’ve got a house full of guests at the bed and breakfast.”
“I’ll come with you.” Madison hopped down from the stairs. “You’ll need an extra set of hands setting up the breakfast dishes for the morning.”
“But, what if the snow
continues, Madison?” Elizabeth pushed back her chair at the dining room table. “I won’t be able to get the car out of the driveway to pick you up. They always plough the street and push the piles of snow onto the bottom of the driveway.”
“I’ll stay and help with the tree.” Bill leaned against the doorway of the living room. Suddenly, the last thing he wanted to do was leave. He never decorated for Christmas and it would be cold and dark in his one bedroom apartment. He wanted to spend the rest of the cozy afternoon in the house with Elizabeth.
“Oh, no,” Elizabeth protested. “I don’t want you to have to stay. The tree only needs a few lights and ornaments. I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.”
“It’s always easier to hang lights with two people,” Bill said, and smiled at Elizabeth. “Plus, I’m pretty good with a shovel.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. Pink darkened her cheeks. “Thank you for helping with everything.” She waved her hand toward the living room. “The house looks wonderful.”
With a start, Bill realized Elizabeth was not used to accepting help from her friends. She was the one who usually pitched in to help everyone else. This time, everyone else was helping Elizabeth.
In the hallway, there was a quick flurry of jackets, coats, and boots being slipped on and everyone headed out the door in one large group. Once the door shut, the house seemed very quiet.
“Well,” Bill stuck his hands in his pockets and shifted on his feet. He and Elizabeth had often been each other’s companions to many events, but they were never alone—just the two of them. “Where do you keep the Christmas tree lights?” It was always easier to keep busy. As a boy, Bill learned the best way to not think about what was going on at home was to keep busy. At school, he played sports year-round. Once the coaches found out about his dad’s constant unemployment, there was always someone willing to step up and help out with his uniform fees. He thrived at sports. They gave him a place to be in the afternoons and evenings. It didn’t bother him that he never had anyone attend his games. He was just happy to have somewhere to go.
Love Under the Christmas Tree Page 5